Steve Irvin-ABC15
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Called it. More than a year ago, I predicted Sinema would run as an independent.
https://www.facebook.com/SteveIrvin/posts/pfbid024CVzBCQVgfiqc3ru6WxESL42Nj6rdSHTNTCjko66Z1GM9NCbw91YZhFA2fZ9xaK1l
There is not enough time, nor space, nor words to say what needs to be said.
Thank You doesn't cut it. It doesn't begin to capture my humbled gratitude. I am, for the first time in three decades, struggling for the right words.
So many people have reached out in the last few weeks and months. A woman approached me in tears, saying I inspired her to stay in the classroom one more year. My co-anchor, Katie Raml, left me in tears with a heartfelt message. My wife gets misty every time anyone says anything.
There has been a lot of crying... Good crying, which is a better measure of a 33-year career than anything else I can imagine.
Years ago, I stopped looking at "the ratings" because I didn't want to measure what I did by gauging how many people actually watched on any given day.
Journalism is not populism... or at least it shouldn't be. While it is certainly easier to tell people what they want to hear, it's also insulting to the audience, and even dangerous..
You deserve an unvarnished accounting of your community. You deserve stories that capture the nuanced subtleties and complexities of our greatest challenges. You deserve compassion and investment in the community.
Today is my last day at ABC15. I'll be anchoring my last newscast at 6:00. I've spent nearly 20 years here, and I hope I've helped your understanding of the place we call home.
I did things differently in my final working years. I put my passion and opinion out there, because I worried about the direction of our state. Some people say that's not "real" journalism. But I don't owe them anything -- least of all a free pass on telling the truth.
I've learned progress is slow. Moving in the right direction often means taking two steps forward and one step back. I had to walk away knowing my work was never really going to be "done." It is merely a snapshot on a timeline, and I have to be satisfied with the effort itself.
Earlier today, I told my colleagues to fight the good fight, and keep fighting. I believe in journalism and its crucial role in democracy, but lots of people want to tear it down, and we should do everything we can to stop them.
If you're one of the many educators who follow this page, I offer similar advice. I believe in teaching, and its crucial role in fulfilling the American dream. Lots of people want to tear you down, too. Do everything you can to make sure they don't succeed.
I'll be retreating to a cabin in the woods for a while. I'll have a lot of time to think about the next step. No doubt I'll be tempted to weigh in on something from time to time, so you likely haven't heard the last of me.
That said, thank you. If you've shared any part of this journey, my gratitude cannot be expressed in words. Then again, a good cry says it all.
Time is our most precious commodity. That's a truism often lost on those who don't have the perspective of time itself. You don't appreciate the value of your own time, until you start thinking about how much you really have left.
For the last 15 months, I've been pre-occupied with that equation.
On August 17, 2020, I woke up feeling chest pains. I went to the hospital and underwent a series of tests. Doctors discovered a 70 - 80 percent blockage in my lower anterior descending artery, a vessel which supplies blood to the front left side of the heart.
A full blockage can produce what doctors have nicknamed, the "widowmaker" heart attack. As its name suggests, it is likely fatal if not treated almost immediately.
Thirty percent of people who experience a full blockage never get a symptom. If I had been one of those people, I discovered, my time was almost up.
Thankfully, I was lucky, and my diagnosis was a wake-up call. I lost weight. I committed to daily cardio exercise. I promised my doctor and the people I love that I would reduce my stress.
That last part hasn't been so easy. For 32 years, I have accepted my job for what it is -- an unpredictable and unnatural attempt to package reality into a 30-minute digest. The job must be done under deadline pressure, and it must be carried out on live television. In 2021, it is also a job which competes against a mountain of misinformation. It is, by nature, stressful, and I failed to understand the impact it can have on someone with coronary artery disease.
I learned that lesson a few months ago, when I found myself in the hospital once again, experiencing chest pains. The diagnosis was better this time, but the promise to the people I love had to change. I could no longer pledge to simply "handle" the stress. I had to promise to eliminate the source of it.
That's why I've decided to retire from television news.
The choice isn't an easy one. I love my job. I love being part of a public discussion at the heart of democracy. I relish the chance to challenge the powerful and ask the questions you'd want to ask. I love telling stories and meeting people I would otherwise never know.
But my time -- whatever time I have left -- is more important than any job. So are the people I love. I want to travel, and learn, and indulge in checking items off my bucket list. I want to develop a mediocre golf game and learn how not to kill plants.
I've made the commitment to stay on full-time at ABC15, until later next year. I'll say my final goodbye then, but I wanted you to know now.
This is my last post on this page, at least for a good long while. I'm taking a hiatus as I take steps to reduce my stress moving forward.
I want to thank you for following and reading my posts, even if you've taken issue with them. I want to thank all the educators who follow this page, and those who work so hard to give children a better future. Know that you are appreciated. Know that you've made a difference. I stand with you, and I always will.
I want to thank the many wonderful people I have had the pleasure of calling colleagues. They have done incredible work under difficult circumstances, and they have often made me look far better than I deserve. When I leave, I will leave you in good hands.
There is an old saying in TV news: "You invite us into your home each night." It's a cliche' that doesn't really ring true. If anything, you are our guests. You don't have to be here, but you choose to invest in us the most precious commodity you have... your time. No matter how much time you've spent watching our news or reading what I have to say, I sincerely hope it has been time well spent.
11/04/2021
For anyone who thinks this is harsh, here's the larger point.
When politicians tell you, you don't have a say in your child's education, they're lying. You have all kinds of influence, and every right to know exactly what's happening in your school.
You have all kinds of ways to find out, including a few avenues outlined below. You can even sit in on your child's class, or volunteer in the classroom.
I hear from teachers all the time, who are frustrated because they can't get parents involved. Now they're being attacked, accused of teaching things they're not even teaching, or "indoctrinating" kids into some radical ideology.
Many of the people attacking them have never set foot in their classroom. Some of the people screaming at school board meetings don't even have kids in the district's schools.
This is about politics. And these days, political battles are won or lost in the suburbs. There's no better way to sway suburban voters, than playing to your protective parental instincts. You'd do anything to protect your kid, and politicians know it.
Here's the thing: you don't have to choose who to believe. You can find out for yourself. If you're not involved in your child's school, find a way. At the very least, start an email dialogue with your child's teacher, the school's principal, or your local school board member.
Keep an open mind, and I'm betting you'll get a good reception. The teachers I know would be happy to hear from you.
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Phoenix, AZ
